Hardy Herbaceous Perennial

• Flowers in : Late Spring to early Summer
• Germination : Experience Useful
• Aftercare : Care Required
• Ideal for : Borders
• Height : 12 inches

Description

This is definitely the star of the perennial geranium family producing flowers virtually non-stop from mid summer to early autumn. The flowers themselves are a delight, a gorgeous clear opal, or Nemophila blue with large white centres, against which the dark stamens and dark veining of the petals contrast beautifully. The plant forms an attractive clump with attractive wedge shaped, silky, deeply toothed leaves, making this a very garden worthy plant even when not in flower. It comes quite true from seed and has been given an Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society. Requirements: One of the easiest perennials to cultivate, happy in sun or light shade and any free draining garden soil.

Sowing Instructions

Sowing Time: February to June or September to October. Sow seed in pots or trays of moist seed compost and cover with a very fine sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. After sowing, seal container inside a polythene bag and keep at 15-20C (60-68F). Germination can be slow, if there is no emergence within 8 weeks, then place container and bag into a refrigerator (not freezer) for 3 weeks, before returning to 15-20C.

Examine container regularly and carefully transplant individual seedlings when large enough to handle into 7.5cm (3in) pots or trays.

Aftercare

Apart from cutting back flowering stems as the flowers fade to encourage further flower production they require very little attention and can be left undisturbed for years. Hardiness: They are cold hardy and can be grown in the UK, Europe, N. America (zones 6-10), Japan and Australia, temperate and cold zone climates. They will tolerate heat but not heat and humidity.